The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-17
How Restaurant Keeper Solari Made Fort
une by Observing the Ways and Defer
ring to the Wishes Of the Wealthy.
Beauty in the 0rchestra-ChairS and in
the Boxes Of the Big 0pera-House.
Nine. PATHS Talent as an Exemplar of Ora
ci0us Manners-Mrs. House Hunters Ex-
perience in Seeking New Quarters.


Fifth avenue are turned up at the AstorA That
is astounding news if not actually important,
and it is true. The residences Of the senior
Astors on the block between Thirty third
and Thirty-fourth streets. The progress of
trade up the avenue has frequently been COM
mented on during the past few years, but it has
been said that, OF course, the invasion would
get check when it came to the Aston houses.
Well. it got to the corner of Thirty-third street
with the present year, when o wins-importer
bought three houses and began to turn them
into stores The contrast is sharp On the one
side Of the street is the remodeled building with
the big sign-board Of restaurant on il and
plentiful labels of sTo Let" On the other
stands in dieniied sobriety one of the Aston
domiciles. But this week the swells have seen
strange sight. Right across Fifth avenue.
directly facing the Astors' homes. is row Of
brown-stone houses belonging to the Astor
estate. and for quarter of century rented to
pretentous families. A force of masons and
carpenters have taken possession. and are rap
idly turning the premises into stores. That the
Astors should themselves commit the offense of
desecrating their own select block is what tip
tits the noses of those who do not hike it.
Society is wide awake after the fast-aslesp
/ period of Lent and the fun began with foolery
on horseback. A masquerade was given by the
members of an equestrian class. and for three
hours the participants wore character costumes
in their saddles. Bold knights and ladies' fair
abounded, naturally. but several of the male
riders impersonated cowboys Indians, and
clowns, while one verturesome girl became
circus performer, standing the padded back
e - -.
This curious scene was at Dickels Academy,
and the acting hostess Mrs. J. NJ. Cotton,
matron of potent social influence. The maiden
of fancy free enough to enact circus rider wore
a mask, and her identity was not revealed,
though good guesses were easy.
The estate Of a man who shrewdly observed
high societys ways turns ont to be 5000, 900 in
| amount. His name was Emmapuela Solari, and
| twenty-five years ago he was a common waiter
| in Delmonco's restaurant At that time and
| long after, Delmonico's was the only really ex-
| quisite eating house in town. There are now a
dozen as favored and several that are even
higher priced. Solari did the waiting in two or
three of the private supper-rooms. upstairs. and
he observed that the guests resented the positive
| rule of the house that doors be fastened and
that the walters drop in on every party at inter
| walls of not more than FIVE minutes. It wasn't so
/ much tina. they were wicked as that they dis
| liked to be watched like school children
! Solari thought 1t all over aud over, in
his heavy Swiss way, and he decided to
open restaurant where seclusion should be ac-
corded to those who desired to dine or sup in
private. He carried out his scheme. Solarrs
thereafter occupied unique position in fashion
able regard. 1t was not big establishment
but its fare was frst-rate, and after onco serv-
ing the meal as ordered the waiter entered the
rooms again only in response to the tap of bell
The price of this kindly inattenion was added
to the regular charges. though not specifically and
SO Solari died worth vast fortune His res
taurant was respectable, and yet visit by a not
sedulously chaperoned party was in the nature
of an adventure. That gave zest to many an
innocent but prankish supper INDUCED in by
wealth and fashion.
The affectations of ''our best society are
comical perhaps but they are nevertheless a
part and parcel of social history. You may re-
call the generally printed prophecy. at the out
set of the Cleveland administration, that the ap-
pointment of Whitney the secretaryshp of
ton life. The Whtneys had for several years
been frsr and foremost among New York enter
tanners in the Aston clique Their mansion b ad
held more hne assemblaees than any other in
town. Mrs. Whitney's tact and enterprise had
been phenomenal. IL was therefore anticipated
that the old prejudice against Washington would
be oblterated from the minds of the Astors and
their kind, and that for the first time the Eek.
clusives" of the metropolis would go over to
mingle with the semi-official people of the cap.
ita 1t has not proved A very few init
mate friends Of the Whitneys have occasionally
visited Washington. but that section of our SO.
cietv which denominates itself all there is Of real
society has kept up the taboo.
-.
The Goulds have not yet made move for
entrance into society, nor given the faintes,
indications of intending to. At the Patti
operas which have crowded the Metropolitan
Opera-house this week. the concededly pretties,
girl in the boxes has been the bride of young
George Gould. That DOESN'T imply AS much as
it at first seems to. Tho two extensive tiers OF
Of proprietary boxes contain. OF course, the
wives and daughters of sweldom. not by Sc
lection, but by the chances of birth and fortune
These women represent the average of all New
| YORK as 20 conellneSs, auo glass can be swept
along for a dozen boxes before focusing toer-
ably pretty face. But drop your gaze to the ol
area of orchestra chairs. where eoodly proper
ton of the girls have been invited on theil
looks, and see how immensely higher is the at
Effectiveness Men do like to take out lovely
maidens. and it that. while beauty il
plenty at the Metropolitan, the boxes do no
contain anything like their proportionate share
OF IL But Mrs. George Gould is beautiful any
how; and posed at the front of the Gould box
with her plump, smooth and neck dis
played by as excellent "a dress there is in tbs
house. she has been the belle of the Patti weel
undeuiaby If she is ambitious 10 enter tn,
society which adioirs her in the boxes. she hal
to curb her desires, for Jay Gould has not ye
undertaken to introduce himself TO the Wander
bits and the others of exaltation- As severa
clubs have declined TO welcome him. and tn
Stock Exchange will not permit him member
ship. it is puzzling question how strenuousll
society would resist him. A common idea i
that winter of gorgeous entertain ment
would prove irresistible.
good true story, now current in Fifth ave
nue., tells how Young assistant rector Of
|. church has made his way rapidly into great &C
, cial favor. He did it by making the infuentia
ladies OF his congregation believe that they wer
1 lie Co. bat Mi. H. btoo